Large-leaved Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus)

Large-leaved lupines are stunning in full bloom, with showy spires of purple-blue flowers reaching up to 5' tall, and attractive palmately divided leaves that provide interest in the garden throughout the season. This beautiful native flower is a great addition to perennial beds and wildflower meadows; the blooms are attractive to pollinators, especially bumblebees. Large-leaved lupine can handle poor soil, and its roots are useful for fixing nitrogen into the soil, as well as providing erosion control.

Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil & Moisture: Mesic to moist soil
Mature Size: 3'-5' tall
Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Edible: No
Wildlife Value: Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Specialist bee host. Seeds eaten by birds and small mammals.
Native Range & Habitat: Moist meadows and riparian areas, streambanks, clearings, and roadsides from low to high elevations. Native from British Columbia south to California, and east to Alberta.
Other Names: Bigleaf lupine